Miscellaneous. 



THE MINU WANGOD A MARKET SHOW. 



It was resolved at a meeting of the local Agricultural Society held at Minu- 

 wangoda, on 14th January, 1900, under the Presidency of Mr. E. B. Den ham, Secretary 

 of the Ceylon Agricultural Society, to hold an exhibition, on 7th April, 1900, of 

 vegetables, yams, fruits, groundnuts, etc., grown in Alut-Kuru Korale North, in the 

 district of Negombo. 



The following prizes were offered by the members of the local society : — 

 (1.) Mr. Walter Dias Bandaranayaka, Mudaliyar, Rs. 20 for the best collec- 

 tion of vegetables. (2.) Mr. J. E. de Silva Suriyabandara, J. P., Rs. 20 for the best 

 collection of vegetables. (3.) Mr. J. F. Jayawardena Viclana Arachchy of Godakaha 

 Palata, Rs. 10 for the 2nd best collection of vegetables. (4.) Mr. Henry Thomas 

 Perera Seneviratna, Notary Public, Rs. 10 for new vegetables which were not grown 

 before in the Korale. (5.) Mr. Abilinu Silva Gunawardena, Notary Public, Rs. 10 for a 

 bushel of groundnuts. (0.) Mr. J. M. P. Samarasekara, Registrar of Marriages, Rs. 5 

 for the best collection of fruits. (7). Mr. S. D. Lianduru, Inquirer into Crimes, Rs. 10 

 for the best collection of yams. (S.) Mr. N. H. Dinadasa, Rs. 10 for best mikiri. 

 (9.) Mr. James de Silva Siriwardena, Rs. 5 second prize for mikiri. (.10.) Mr. G. D. 

 Valentine Rs. 5 for five pounds of cocoons. 



In pursuance of a notice issued by the local society, the show was held on 

 7th April, 1906, in the King's Coronation Market, at Minuwangoda. From early morn- 

 ing a large number of cultivators of vegetables in the Korale produced different 

 kinds of vegetables, etc., grown by them. Mr. C Drieberg, the Superintendent of 

 School Gardens, who arrived at Minuwangoda very early in the morning arranged 

 the exhibits with the help of Mr. A. C. Nawaswayam, Secretary of the local society. 

 It was first thought by the Society that it would be a very poor show owing to the 

 continued drought. However, that did not prevent the cultivators from competing 

 for the prizes offered by the local society as an encouragement for vegetable culti- 

 vation. By 12 a.m. the market was almost full with fresh vegetable exhibits, which 

 were certified to by the Secretary of the Society as grown in the district. He had 

 examined each exhibit at the request of the Society before removing them from the 

 places where they were grown. As there were a large number of exhibitors, the 

 Society was obliged to divide the prizes, in order to give a prize to each of the best 

 cultivators. 



Judging for the prizes commenced at 2 p.m. by Messrs. C. Drieberg, Arnold 

 F. Karunaratna, Inquirer into Crimes, and Wagiswara, Pandit. In the unavoidable 

 absence of Mr. E. B. Denham, whom the local society expected to distribute 

 prizes, Mr. Drieberg was proposed to the chair by Mr. J. E. de Silva Suriya- 

 bandara, J. P., President, V. T. At the request of Mr. Drieberg the prizes 

 were distributed by Miss Lilian Suriyabandara, the eldest daughter of the President. 

 The prizes r-auging from Rs. 2 to Rs. 20, including gold and silver coins in small well- 

 designed silk bags, were given away to the best cultivators of vegetables, fruits, yams 

 and groundnuts. An artistic certificate with the photograph of the Governor, 

 founder of the Ceylon Agricultural Society, accompanied each prize. Mr. Drieberg 

 addressed the cultivators at length on the advantages and benefits of cultivation. 



The Hon'ble Mr. F. R. Ellis, C.M.G., Auditor-General, accompanied by the 

 Atapattu Mudaliyar, Mr. Solomon Seueviratne, .T. P., unexpectedly visited the show. 

 The Auditor-General was very satisfied with the vegetable exhibits. It is the inten- 

 tion of the local society to hold a similar exhibition of vegetables, etc., about the 

 beginning of November next, and the Society expects contributions for the prizes 

 from some gentlemen who own extensive coconut estates in the district. We are 

 glad to certify to the fact that this show has encouraged the people of the Korale to 



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